The private French gas companies, Dalkia (a subsidiary of Vivendi), Elf Aquitaine Gaz, Gaz du Sud Ouest, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and its subsidiary Eylo, and Total, have formed a trade association, Union Professionelle des Industries Priveés du Gaz (UPRIGAZ), headquartered in Courbevoie.

This association has been established in anticipation of the transposition of European directives in France concerning the internal gas market. Its objective is to represent the interests of private industrial firms which currently operate, or may operate in the future, in the areas of transportation, marketing and trading of natural gas in France.

The association was also set up to represent its members with French administrative authorities and the rest of the European Union, and more generally with all interested parties, notably other similar organizations in European Union member countries.

At its constituent meeting, the association's members elected Michel Romieu, Chairman of Elf Aquitaine Gaz, as its president for a term of three years.